DES (Diversity Education Series)

The Diversity Education Series (DES) is a set of educational programs specifically designed for students to explore various aspects of diversity. The goal of each program is to create a platform for participants to unpack topics and engage in meaningful conversations about diversity and inclusion. Discussions will assist students in developing a knowledge of self and others as well as putting concepts and ideas into application.

Under the Lights (Occurs every fall semester)

The Office of Social Justice & Activism facilitates a series entitled Under the Lights: Diversity and Sports. The serieshelps connect curricular and co-curricular diversity education. Under the Lights is an education series at Otterbein that explores areas of diversity through the field of sports.

The goal of each program is to encourage genuine conversation and further develop insight through the stories that occur "under the lights." Programs include guest speakers, workshops and lunch conversations that extract numerous areas of diversity including gender, race, ethnicity, socioeconomics and sexuality.

In order to lay the foundation for discussion, we use excerpts from ESPN 30 for 30 films. By dissecting areas of each film, students are then able to more keenly make those connections to their own community. Once those connections are made, participants develop action items of how they can positively impact Otterbein's campus climate.

In years past, Under the Lights has featured guest speakers such as Otterbein Director of Athletics, Dawn Stewart, who presented an engaging session on Title IX's coverage in athletics. We have connected with faculty members in Otterbein's Health and Sports Sciences Department to make it an extension of what is being taught in the classroom.

Participation in these programs has propelled students to be knowledgeable, multi-literate, responsible, engaged, and inquisitive within the world around them.

Otterbein students who attend at least three of the six events will earn a FREE trip to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Students will take the opportunity to experience and explore the Hall of Fame, learning about other stories that have influenced diversity in sports.

/ Office of Social Justice & Activism

The Office of Social Justice & Activism is located in Student Affairs in Hanby Hall.